Archaeology is the science of investigation. It addresses the 'big questions' about the human past over the huge periods of time for which there are no written records, so that the forensic skills of the archaeologist are to the fore, as well as combining written records with material evidence in the investigation of historical periods.

The Archaeology degree schemes at Cardiff are noted for their geographical and chronological breadth and the range of student choice they offer. They focus on the British Isles, Europe, Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean (visit the Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion website for more information about studying Egyptian Archaeology
). As a student at Cardiff, one of the highly respected Russell group universities, you will learn with staff who undertake cutting-edge research on archaeology and history as well as developing innovative techniques in forensics, dating, and osteology. You will be studying in a vibrant and exciting capital city with the university campus at its heart but close to some of the richest archaeological landscapes and monuments in Britain.

You will benefit from the Department of Archaeology & Conservation's facilities including state of the art teaching and research laboratories, dedicated geophysical and surveying equipment and a range of sophisticated equipment for the analysis of artefacts and biological materials. During the summer after each of your first two years, you will also complete a four-week placement on an excavation in Britain or abroad or within one of our partner heritage organisations (e.g. the National Museum of Wales); this lets you experience the excitement of archaeological discovery at first hand. Placements are arranged, approved, funded and assessed by the department, so that in this way, unlike some other institutions, your excavation performance counts toward your degree result.

The Cardiff degree provides a level of training, skill and knowledge that is respected within professional archaeology and will serve you well when applying for postgraduate study, for employment in archaeology and the heritage sector. Archaeology at Cardiff will also give you key transferrable skills for employment in a wide range of spheres outside of Archaeology, for example we focus on providing our students with the chance to work in schools, museums and community groups to enhance their communication skills in a number of innovative public engagement activities. Archaeology's diverse scientific and human skills make our graduates attractive to a wide range of employers.

The Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology is a three-year degree which provides a level of training, skill and knowledge that is respected within professional archaeology and which serves students well when applying for postgraduate study, for employment in archaeology and the heritage sector, and for employment outside of the discipline. It offers a huge range of choice which students can tailor to their own interests.

Year One

In the first year of the BA Archaeology degree, students study three subjects: a general introduction to the human past; a more detailed introduction to
archaeological skills; and any other subject offered by the university which
is timetable-compatible. Thus, in their first year, BA Archaeology students
take the following modules

Deep Histories: Archaeology of Britain

Mediterranean Societies (Egypt, Greece and Rome)

Discovering Archaeology

Analysing Archaeology

You will take an additional 40 credits of modules from the School of History, Archaeology and Religion or from any other school or department of the university (scheduling/timetabling conflicts and entry requirements permitting). Year 1 Ancient History is a popular choice (though many other possible combinations exist) with two 20 credit modules:

Introduction to Ancient Greek History

Introduction to Roman History

Archaeology Years 2 & 3

In the second and third years, students must complete 240 credits of modules of which 80 credits consist of core requirements. The remaining 160 credits come from a wide range of period, topic, or technique specific modules and students have a great deal of flexibilty to follow the subjects they are most interested in.

Core archaeology modules:

Archaeological Illustration

An Independent Archaeological study of your choice

Archaeological Fieldwork (Excavation or Placement)

Archaeological Theory

The optional modules in Years Two and Three cover themes such as:

Prehistoric Europe from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age

Egyptian Archaeology

Greek and Roman worlds

Dark Age and Viking Britain

Forensic and Osteoarchaeology

Bioarchaeology

Artefact Analysis and Conservation

Digital Archaeology

Photography

Surveying

Heritage Communication

In Year Two, you will take the Archaeological Independent Study module and in the third year you have the option of taking the Archaeology Dissertation module and in these modules you have the chance to follow your own special interests. During the summer after the second year, all students complete their second compulsory placement of excavation.

The School of History, Archaeology and Religion offers programmes that
are exciting, cutting edge, research- led and in tune with demand. The School
maintains a thoroughly student-orientated approach to the acquisition of
knowledge and skills and offering the highest quality learning environment
in which individuals can develop.

The School's programmes develop a range of important intellectual skills,
including critical thinking, evaluating evidence, constructing arguments
based on evidence, and presenting opinions effectively in writing and in
debate. You will also gain valuable practical skills — for example, team-working,
independent research and time management.

Strong pastoral support within the School is supplemented by university-wide
assistance in housing, finances and career development.

In studying archaeology at Cardiff, you will encounter new ways of looking,
thinking and doing. You will examine evidence from a wide range of sources,
such as bones, insects, potsherds and coins. You will develop your own arguments
based upon your interpretation of the archaeological record. You will be
able use a range of sophisticated surveying methods and, if you wish, you
will have the opportunity to use advanced techniques of scientific analysis.
You will excavate your first potsherd, stone tool or coin.

The study of the past requires a wide range of skills, and when you have
completed your degree, you will take them with you. In your archaeology
course you will work as part of a team in the field and in the laboratory;
you will research ideas, form opinions and present them in your own terms;
you will develop your writing to address a range of audiences; you will
use a range of software programmes and develop a wide range of practical
skills. These transferable skills will be of benefit in your future career,
no matter what path you decide to take.

You will receive written and oral feedback from module tutors on your
assessed course work. Each student is allocated with a personal tutor who
you will meet with regularly throughout the year to discuss your personal
development. Every member of staff has weekly office hours advertising when
they are available for students to drop in for further support.

Both delivery of teaching and methods of assessment vary. Teaching is by
lectures, seminars, practical/lab classes and field classes. Assessment
is normally by a combination of coursework and exams; some modules are assessed
entirely by coursework.

Typical A-level Offer

ABB-BBC

Typical WBQ Offer

Grade A in the Core, with a BB at A-level

Typical Int Bacc Offer

28-36 points,
including scores of 5/4 at Higher Level

Other

Archaeology welcomes students with non-traditional qualifications and those with relevant practical experience.
For our BA Archaeology (F400) we will accept the Access to HE Diploma (usually a course which includes History or Ancient History or the Access to Humanities route) for admission sometimes subject to a successful interview.

The School of History, Archaeology and Religion believes in giving its graduates the best opportunities to find employment. The study of the past requires a wide range of skills, and when you have completed your degree, you will take them with you. In your archaeology course you will work as part of a team in the field and in the laboratory; you will research ideas, form opinions and present them in your own terms; you will develop your writing to address a range of audiences; you will use a range of software programmes and develop a wide range of practical skills. These transferable skills will be of benefit in your future career, no matter what path you decide to take.

We believe that Archaeology students are particularly well placed to compete for employment as their degree involves a range of practical and academic skills which have a wide value beyond archaeology. These transferrable skills have permitted our graduates to find work in journalism, banking, finance, teaching and a wide range of other areas.

We organise interactive workshops with the Careers Service to help students identify their skills and attributes. Many of our graduates enter professions which make direct use of their academic expertise such as work in archives or museums. The majority, however, compete very successfully in a wide range of other fields.

In 2011, 62% of the School's graduates were in employment within six months of graduation while a further 29% were engaged in further study.

An archaeology degree represents a challenging, interesting and exciting way to prepare for the future.

Fieldwork is an integral part of all the Archaeology degrees at Cardiff, giving our students hands on experience in real field situations. The fieldwork programme has been designed to give students the widest range of field experiences linked to classroom-based teaching.

You will be out in the field with us within a few weeks of joining us, visiting some of the key sites in the locality which will help embed you in Cardiff, meet other students on your programme in informal surroundings, and meet some of your lecturers outside of the classroom.

Throughout Year 1 you will undertake various local day trips to sites like the Avebury stone circles, Caerleon Roman legionary fortress, Cirencester Roman and medieval town and Tintern Cistercian Abbey. You will learn how to read monuments and landscapes and evaluate the impact of modern heritage presentation on ancient monuments.

Between Year 1 and Year 2 all students undertake a four week excavation or fieldwork project. This will be on an excavation in Britain or abroad or within one of our partner heritage organisations (e.g. the National Museum of Wales); this lets you experience the excitement of archaeological discovery at first hand. Placements are arranged, approved, funded and assessed by the department, so that in this way, unlike some other institutions, your excavation performance counts toward your degree result. A second placement of four weeks takes place between Year 2 and Year 3.

You will be engaged in the creation of new knowledge and the excitement of discovering the past. You will handle ancient artefacts and reveal ancient structures, perhaps handle the bones of our most ancient ancestors, or analyse the remains of ancient meals and rituals. Recent department projects have included the dramatic new discoveries at the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon, excavation of Ham Hill the largest Iron Age hillfort in England, fieldwork on the Egyptian catacombs at Saqqara and Palaeolithic excavations in the Danube Gorges. Projects led by Cardiff staff or colleagues from elsewhere have taken place in Romania, Germany, Crete, South Uist, Orkney and North Wales.

Many of you will not have excavated before and you will be introduced to the techniques of excavation and recording so that by the end of your degree you will be familiar with the main processes of archaeological fieldwork. Whether you stay in archaeology, or take up employment elsewhere, your excavations and their team working and social dimensions will be one of your most memorable university experiences.